This fun, informative meeting is for current and prospective N.Ky. Bluebird Trail Monitors and those who may be interested in participating, as well as those just interested in birds.

Speakers include Steve Trauger of Kenton County Parks & Recreation, with Brenda Clark of the Kenton County Public Library), Chrisula Stone of the N.Ky. Bluebird Trail Monitor and NestWatch Coordinator, and Tom Sproat of BIOSE.

There will be a pot luck supper beginnging at 6 p.m. Bring a dish to pass. At 6:30p.m., the program will begin with an introduction and talk with pictures about the Eastern bluebird and other cavity nesting birds. Disucssion will include the purpose and benefits of the N.Ky. Bluebird Trail and explanation of the tasks of a nestbox monitor, along with some of the joys and heartbreaks of nestbox monitoring.

What, exactly, does a monitor do? Monitors generally work from May and into August with regular visits to a series of numbered nestboxes, observing and recording the activity, noting such data as first nest-building activity and which species is using the nestbox. Other important data is collected, such as when the first egg appears, date the first egg hatches, and when the brood fledges, or leaves the nestbox as nearly self-supporting individuals. Monitors also remove pests (wasps, ants and blowflies) from the nestboxes. We will be recruiting new monitors. There is commitment involved; however, if you are interested, be sure to let us know.

Around 6:45 p.m., Stone will explain the NestWatch program from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, which involves more in-depth tracking of data and then entering the data collected at http://www.NestWatch.org. She has already entered the data she collected from the 2013 season. She will be recruiting data entry volunteer captains to enter data for monitors who might not be comfortable entering their own data online. There is additional training involved for those who wish to become certified in NestWatch and Stone will head that up with a later date to be determined.

At 7:30 p.m., Sproat from BIOSE will explain why scientists band birds, show some of the tools he uses, and introduce his plan to begin banding birds that use our parks nestboxes.

There will be a question and answer session and a free raffle of some donated prizes.

For news of upcoming programs, activities, and events to be held in Kenton County's parks, call the Parks & Recreation office at 859-525-PLAY (7529). Ask about signing up for a once-a-week e-mail update of What's Happening in Kenton County's Parks.

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Chat 'N Chew will have bluebird trail monitors meeting

Become a citizen scientist and make a difference. Learn how to safely and properly monitor bird nests, and contribute towards the conservation and study of birds.